Adoetram j



(No Model.)

A. J. TRASK.

BOOT OR SHOE VENTILATOR.

Patented Jan. 20, 1885.

WITNESSES ATTORNEYS.

lUNrTE STATES.

" ATENT ()FFICE.

ADONIRAM J. TRASK, OF NOBLEBOROUGH, MAINE.

BOOT OR SHOE VENTILATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 311,046, dated January20, 1885.

Application filed September 20, 1854.

T 0 all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ADONIRAM J. TRASK, ofNobleborough, in the county ofLincoln and State of Maine, have invented a new and Improved Boot andShoe Ventilator, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact de;scription.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved device forventilating boots or shoes on the feet, so as to keep the feet dry andcool and prevent moisture from entering.

The invention consists of a flexible bulb or chamber disposed at theheel end of the shoe or boot in a cavity, in combination with theinsole, having an aperture directly above or in line with the bulb orchamber, said bulb or chamber communicating by a tube with the inside ofthe shoe or boot and with the external air by aseeond tube, said tubeshaving air check-valves, substantially as hereinafter fully set forthand claimed. The bulb is alternately compressed and expanded, and air isforced from the same into the front part of the shoe. Reference is to behad to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification.in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts inboth the figures.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a shoe provided withmy improved boot and shoe ventilator. Fig. 2 is a plan of the top of thesole and the ventilator.

The sole Ais providedin its upper surface with a groove, 13, extendingfrom the heel nearly to the toe end, and near the heel the groove isenlarged to form a cavity, B, for receiving a rubber or other flexiblebulb, C, from both ends of which rubber tubes D extend. One tube Dextends to the'front of the groove B, in which it is placed, and theother tube D extends to the heel end of the shoe, the tubes D beingcovered by the false or upper sole, E, usually secured on the uppersurface of the sole A. A hole is formed in (No model.)

the said upper sole above the bulb O, to permit the upper part of thelatter to lie therein, and thus prevent its being held down or subjectedto continuous pressure by the insole. The rear tube D extends up theback of the shoe to the top of or above the counter, betweenis forcedthrough the front tube D into the interior of the shoe, and circulatesaround the foot and passes out through the top of the shoe. Bycompressing the bulb a vacuum is formed whenthe heel part of the foot israised, and the bulb is again filled with air through the rear tube. Theair is again forced out at the front when the foot is brought down, andso on. The rear tube D must be provided with a check-valve, to preventthe air being forced out through it, and the front tube 1) must beprovided with a check-valve to prevent the air being drawn in throughit.

I am aware that it is not new to employ airducts under the insole havingconnection with the foot-chamber and the outside air, and that it is notnew to employ, in connection with such air-ducts, a bellows orcompressor.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- In a boot or shoe, the flexible air bulb or chamber,in combination with the insole having an aperture or opening whichreceives the upper portion of said bulb partially, the lower sole havinga corresponding aperture to receive the lower portion thereof, and theair-tubes having check-valves, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

ADONIRAM J. TRASK.

Witnesses:

'luos. P. KEENE, WM. JOHNSON.

